International Marine VHF Channels

These are the International Marine VHF Channels, as used by UK Coastguard. Note that Canadian and US Coastguards will use different channels.

Use Channel 16 for Initial Calling, and for Distress and Safety Calling. Once contact is established, the station called will nominate a Working Channel on which the contact is then continued *. The calling station should acknowledge acceptance before changing channel. Note that after the initial contact, the stations must switch to a Working Channel, except for safety matters. Working Channels are noted below in bold. It is advised to keep the Channels used by UK Coastguard clear, they will probably direct you to one of them for routine traffic.

Channel 13 is designated for intership safety of navigation (sometimes known as "bridge to bridge") and may be a possible channel for calling a merchant ship if no contact on channel 16.

Are you close enough to use "low-power" (1 watt)? - Doing so saves your battery and also reduces the range your signal achieves - this prevents the channel being cluttered and helps other people access it.

Channel 70 is exclusively for DSC calling for safety and emergency and must not be used for other purposes.

Click here to download a .PDF version of this page.

International VHF Channels Transmitting Frequencies (MHz)   Intership Port Operations and Ship Movement Public correspondence
  Ship Stations Coast Stations        
0 156.000 156.000 private Used by UK HM Coastguard  
1 156.050 160.650 duplex    x x
2 156.100 160.700 duplex    x x
3 156.150 160.750 duplex    x x
4 156.200 160.800 duplex    x x
5 156.250 160.850 duplex    x x
6 156.300 156.300 simplex intership    
7 156.350 160.950 duplex    x x
8 156.400 156.400 simplex intership     
9 156.450 156.450 simplex intership x  
10 156.500 156.500 simplex intership x  
11 156.550 156.550 simplex    x  
12 156.600 156.600 simplex    x   
13 156.650 156.650 simplex intership x   
14 156.700 156.700 simplex    x   
15 156.750 156.750 simplex intership x  
16 156.800 156.800 simplex

  DISTRESS, SAFETY AND CALLING - used for initial contact - then select a Working Channel. In the case of a Mayday, the station controlling the Mayday (usually the CG) may impose radio silence and handle the call on Ch 16.
17 156.850 156.850 simplex intership x   
18 156.900 161.500 duplex    x  
19 156.950 161.550 duplex    x  
20 157.000 161.600 duplex    x  
21 157.050 161.650 duplex    x  
22 157.100 161.700 duplex    x  
23 157.150 161.750 duplex      x
24 157.200 161.800 duplex      x
25 157.250 161.850 duplex      x
26 157.300 161.900 duplex      x
27 157.350 161.950 duplex      x
28 157.400 162.000 duplex      x
29 to 36     private      
37 (M1) 157.850 157.850 private   Used by UK Marinas and Yacht Clubs  
38 to 59     private      
60 156.025 160.625 duplex   x x
61 156.075 160.675 duplex   x x
62 156.125 160.725 duplex . x x
63 156.175 160.775 duplex   x x
64 156.225 160.825 duplex   x x
65 156.275 160.875 duplex   x x
66 156.325 160.925 duplex   x x
67 156.375 156.375 simplex intership UK Coastguard  
68 156.425 156.425 simplex   x  
69 156.475 156.475 simplex intership x  
70 156.525 156.525 simplex Digital Selective Calling (DSC)  ONLY
71 156.575 156.575 simplex   x  
72 156.625 156.625 simplex intership    
73 156.675 156.675 simplex intership x  
74 156.725 156.725 simplex   x  
75 156.775 156.775 simplex   x  
76 156.825 156.825 simplex   x  
77 156.875 156.875 simplex intership    
78 156.925 161.525 duplex   x x
79 156.975 161.575 duplex   x  
80 157.025 161.625 duplex UK Marinas
81 157.075 161.675 duplex   x x
82 157.125 161.725 duplex   x x
83 157.175 161.775 duplex     x
84 157.225 161.825 duplex   x x
85 157.275 161.875 duplex     x
86 157.325 161.925 duplex     x
87 157.375 157.375 simplex     x
88 157.425 157.425 simplex     x
             
M2 161.425 161.425 private Used by UK Marinas and Yacht Clubs  
ASI 1 162.025 162.025 simplex Automatic Ship Identification (data)
ASI 2 161.975 161.975 simplex Automatic Ship Identification (data)

Summary

Primary Intership Working Channels: 06, 08, 09, 10, 13, 15, 17, 67, 69, 72, 73, 77 - these are worth knowing so that if another vessel calls you, you can swiftly nominate a working channel from within this group.

In practice you should only use channels NOT shared with port operations. These are 06, 08, 72 and 77.
UK Coastguard use channels 10, 23, 67, 73, 84, 86
UK Marinas use channel 80 or M1 (37)
UK Yacht Clubs use M1 (37) & M2
BRITISH & IRISH VHF MARINE CHANNEL LIST - channels used by various ports and estuaries as well as marinas.
Channel information for Inland Waterways, Locks and Estuaries is included in Appendix A & B of this info from British Waterways.
For details on licencing and use of marine VHF, see the VHF page in the Almanac.
* RYA have confirmed this to be the correct protocol (by email 17 May 2011) following query in this discussion. There seem to be numerous "guides on VHF usage" on the web which suggest (incorrectly) it is the calling station who nominate the working channel.
Click here to download a .PDF version of this page.
(Updated 20-Aug-2012 )